Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

With Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies, my holiday baking always starts with something fun and bold like these cookies packed with pretzels, potato chips, candies, and sprinkles. This Christmas cookie recipe is quick to prep in just 35 minutes and bakes up chewy, salty, and sweet for the perfect festive treat right in your home kitchen. Ideal for families or holiday party trays, you can have a batch ready in under an hour, making these kitchen sink cookies a great addition to your Christmas cookie assortment.

The first time I baked these Christmas monster cookies with pretzels, every bite was a little different—sometimes crunchy and salty, sometimes filled with melty white chocolate and red or green jimmies. My family quickly declared this Christmas kitchen sink cookies recipe a favorite, especially as the colorful dough on the baking sheet looked so festive. After that first batch vanished in a day, these cookies became a holiday tradition and a favorite kitchen project with my kids.

Gather Your Ingredients

• Salted butter, softened: Gives rich holiday cookie flavor and perfect spread; use high quality butter, but can substitute unsalted butter and add extra pinch of salt
• Light brown sugar, packed: Essential for chewiness and deeper caramel taste; always pack the brown sugar firmly for accurate measurement, and dark brown sugar works in a pinch for deeper flavor
• Granulated white sugar: Balances sweetness and creates crisp edges; use organic white sugar for best texture or swap coconut sugar for a caramel note
• Egg yolks at room temperature: Add richness without making cookies too cakey; room temperature yields a smoother batter, and large eggs are best for consistency
• Vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract: Adds classic Christmas cookie scent; vanilla bean paste gives bakery depth, but pure extract is a great substitute
• All purpose flour, spooned and leveled: Provides structure; measure carefully or use a cup for cup gluten free blend for gluten free Christmas cookies
• Baking powder and baking soda: Work together for even rise and soft centers; fresh leaveners guarantee puffy cookies
• Salt: Balances sweet and salty elements for classic flavor contrast
• Red and green M and M candies: Add festive color and chocolate pops; any seasonal color works for decorating
• White chocolate chips: Creamy contrast to the salty mix ins; substitute dark chocolate or leave out for less sweetness
• Pretzel pieces: Extra crunch and salt; choose mini pretzels and roughly chop for best distribution
• Potato chip pieces: Provide a buttery, crispy bite; kettle cooked chips hold up great or use ridged chips for more durability
• Red and green jimmies: Classic bakery sprinkles that provide a visual and textural finish; look for vibrant colors to keep cookies extra festive

How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Preheat and Prepare the Baking Sheets:

Set your oven to 350 degrees for best results. Line two heavy duty baking sheets with parchment paper for even browning and no sticking, spreading out the dough helps cookies bake with crisp edges.

Cream Butter and Sugars Until Light and Fluffy:

Add the softened salted butter, packed light brown sugar, and granulated sugar to your mixing bowl. Beat on medium high for two minutes until the mixture is pale and almost creamy—this aerates the dough for a chewy, tender cookie.

Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla:

Mix in both egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract. Continue mixing until the dough becomes lighter in color and satin smooth, about two more minutes; this ensures richness in every holiday bite.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients:

Gently add all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed. Blend just until streaks of flour disappear—overmixing makes cookies tough, so stop as soon as dough is soft and scoopable.

Fold in Festive Mix Ins:

Use a spatula to fold in red and green M and M candies, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and jimmies evenly. Be gentle so you do not break up the mix ins too much, resulting in dense cookies.

Portion and Arrange Dough Balls:

Scoop out about 20 dough balls using a two tablespoon cookie scoop, spacing each ball about two inches apart on baking sheets; this allows for even spreading and crisp rims.

Top with Extra Mix Ins:

Press a few extra M and M candies, pretzels, and jimmies on top of each dough ball for a stunning bakery finish that stands out on a Christmas cookie assortment.

Bake for 10 to 12 Minutes:

Bake cookies for 10 minutes for chewy centers or up to 12 minutes for crispier edges, watching for lightly golden rims and centers that look just set—cookies keep baking from residual heat after removing from the oven.

Swirl to Shape for Perfect Circles:

Immediately after baking, use a large round cookie cutter to gently swirl around each hot cookie. This helps create perfect circles and neat bakery style edges for your Christmas kitchen sink cookies.

Cool Properly for Best Texture:

Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes to firm up, then transfer to a rack for another 10 minutes to keep bottoms crisp and prevent sogginess on top.

Store and Enjoy:

Once fully cool, place cookies in an airtight tin or container. They keep fresh on the counter for up to three days—perfect for prepping ahead for parties or sharing as gifts.

Last year, I found that kettle cooked potato chips add amazing sturdiness and a buttery flavor to these cookies, making each bite uniquely delicious. Watching my kids debate whether the double chocolate chip or extra sprinkle versions were best is now one of our favorite Christmas kitchen memories. Every holiday, this kitchen sink cookie recipe becomes the centerpiece of our dessert table thanks to its playful look and irresistible texture.

Smart Swaps and Variations

This Christmas kitchen sink cookies recipe is great for customizing with your favorite candies or for cleaning out the pantry. Use dark chocolate chips or chopped candy bars for a richer flavor, or add dried cranberries for a chewy winter twist. For allergy friendly or diet specific needs, swap in gluten free flour, vegan butter, or dairy free chocolate chips so everyone at the holiday table can enjoy these festive cookies.

How to Store and Reheat Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

To keep your Christmas kitchen sink cookies fresh, allow them to cool fully and then store in an airtight tin at room temperature for up to three days. For extended storage, freeze cookies in single layers between parchment in zip top bags or airtight containers; they stay fresh for up to three months. To reheat and enjoy the cookies as if just baked, thaw at room temperature or warm in a 275 degree oven for three to five minutes for that perfect just out of the oven texture.

What to Serve with Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Christmas kitchen sink cookies are the hit of any holiday dessert buffet and look beautiful stacked with sugar cookies or gingerbread on a festive platter. Serve them alongside mugs of hot cocoa, mulled cider, or peppermint ice cream for a flavorful holiday pairing. For homemade edible gifts, tuck cookies into cellophane bags or a decorated holiday tin to share with friends, neighbors, or coworkers during Christmas celebrations.

Nutritional Benefits

While these festive Christmas cookies are definitely an indulgence, they offer some nutrition from egg yolks and the combination of sweet and salty mix ins. Each cookie provides quick energy from carbohydrates, with about 430 calories and around 15 grams of protein thanks to flour, butter, and eggs. They are naturally nut free and easily adjusted for gluten free or dairy free diets, making them a safe and inclusive treat for a variety of holiday gatherings.

Recipe Success Tips

If your Christmas kitchen sink cookies are spreading too much, try chilling the dough balls for 20 minutes before baking for a thicker cookie. For cookies that turn out too soft, extend baking time by one or two minutes, especially for firmer edges. Always top dough balls with extra mix ins and use two baking sheets to prevent crowding and ensure even baking, resulting in perfectly shaped and bakery style cookies every time.

These Christmas kitchen sink cookies are everything I want in a holiday dessert: bold, colorful, and loaded with festive flavor. Enjoy baking and sharing these cookies this season, and let me know which mix ins become your family’s new favorite.

Common Questions About This Recipe

→ What makes these cookies unique?

The combination of sweet and salty mix-ins, including pretzels, M&M’s, chocolate chips, and potato chips, creates a variety of textures and flavors in every bite.

→ Can I substitute the mix-ins?

Yes, you can swap out M&M’s, chocolate chips, or pretzels for your favorite candies, nuts, or festive mix-ins to customize the cookies for any holiday.

→ How do I achieve perfectly round cookies?

Immediately after baking, use a large circular cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie, tightening the edges for a neat, round shape.

→ How should I store these cookies?

Allow the cookies to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days to maintain freshness.

→ Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping and baking.

→ What makes these cookies festive?

Red and green M&M’s, jimmies, and assorted add-ins create a colorful, holiday-inspired appearance perfect for Christmas celebrations.